title: Chemical composition and glycemic index of three varieties of Omani dates.
abstract: The present study evaluated the nutritional quality and glycemic index of three sun-dried date varieties (Khalas, Khsab and Fardh) grown in Oman. Significant (P<0.05) differences were observed in the proximate chemical composition, dietary fiber contents, various sugar fractions and energy value of these dates. The moisture, ash, crude protein, total fat, and nitrogen-free extract values ranged between 18.77 and 23.71 g/100 g date flesh, 1.12 and 1.55 g/100 g date flesh, 1.28 and 1.89 g/100 g date flesh, 1.14 and 2.37 g/100 g date flesh, and 68.53 and 75.37 g/100 g date flesh, respectively. The dietary fiber and total sugar contents ranged between 8.83 and 13.11 g/100 g and between 52.17 and 59.96 g/100 g, respectively. The glycemic index (GI) of different varieties of dates collected from various regions of Oman ranged between 47.6 and 57.7. Overall no significant (P<0.05) differences were observed in the GI values of different varieties of dates. The regional effects on the GI values of dates were also non-significant (P>0.05). An inverse correlation (r(2)) was observed between the fructose fraction and the GI value of dates.
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Science and Nutrition, Sultan Qaboos University, Al-Khoud, Sultanate of Oman. amanat@squ.edu.om
authors.forename: Amanat
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ali
authors.forename: Yusra S M
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Al-Kindi
authors.forename: Fahad
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Al-Said
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000465:Algorithms; D028023:Arecaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D005511:Food Handling; D005632:Fructose / Q000032:analysis; D005638:Fruit / Q000737:chemistry*; D038321:Glycemic Index; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009850:Oman; D013045:Species Specificity; D013997:Time Factors; D014867:Water / Q000032:analysis; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D014867:Water; D005632:Fructose